Reflections and comments on all aspects of Catholic and Human Life.
"THE FIRST LAW OF HISTORY IS NOT TO DARE UTTER FLASEHOOD; THE SECOND, NOT TO FEAR TO SPEAK THE TRUTH." attributed to Pope Leo XIII

Thursday, January 08, 2015

JE SUIS CHARLIE: OUI ET NON

Unless one lives in a cave off the grid much of the human
family is both aware of the horrific terrorist attack in Paris and many
millions have chosen to show solidarity by texting, twittering, etc., hold up
signs declaring: Je Suis Charlie!

It will be noted in the title I have joined this solidarity
movement – but here my solidarity comes with the caveat: oui et non! [yes &
no].

Yes in solidarity against terrorism and for freedom of
expression but no to several things: No – to glorifying unbridled and juvenile mockery
of persons and religions; no – within this relentless media bombardment of
repeating the names of the terrorists over and over: they should not have their
names, which are drenched in blood, repeated.

They should be in truth named as they have chosen [chose
one]: betrayers of faith, terrorists, murders, thugs, haters and let their
actual names be forgotten.

If we calmly step back and look at history as
dispassionately as possible there is not a single religion extant on the earth
today which has not had its period of extremism within its own ranks, an
extremism which often spills over and impacts surrounding peoples.

It took centuries, for example, for Catholics and Protestant
Christians to move from violent hostility to cranky tolerance to ecumenism.

Similarly it took the horror of the Holocaust to quicken
Christians and Jews to begin an authentic rapprochement, to understand the
enormity of hatred in lives stolen and betrayal of the very essence of being a
human person created in the image and likeness of God.

Again stepping back from the terrorist slaughter in Paris we
observe within Islam the ongoing, centuries old internal warfare.

Attacks by Muslim extremists on non-Muslims garner enormous
press worldwide but as tragic as the number 12 dead in Paris is it pales in comparison
to the tens of thousands of Muslim men, women and children slaughtered by their
own co-religionists.

Yes no one is crying out in solidarity with those victims: I
am Muslim!

Satan is the great divider, liar, hater, fear monger and in
particular since 9/11 he has been, at first blush, rather successful at
spreading within the human family division, lies, hatred, fear and it would
appear his greatest region of success is within those pockets within a
particular religion pre-disposed to listen to him.

Two obviously did in Paris.

Again it is a matter of calm perspective.

There are currently 7 billion men, women and children living
on earth of which, combining our Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Muslim brothers
and sisters close to 4 billion believe in the one true God who revealed Himself
first in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures.

Of the remaining 3 billion people the vast majority adhere
to some form of religious faith as hallmark of their lives.

Therefore, compared to the 2 in Paris, the vast majority of
the human family live lives that are peaceful, family oriented, considerate of
their neighbours, dutiful citizens of their homeland, working, playing: in a
word being authentically human.

It is this basic fact that real people so immensely out
number the 2 and those of their ilk that terrorism will NEVER achieve its
objective, extremism will ALWAYS ultimately fail.

Truth is more powerful than any lie, hence JE SUIS CHARLIE!,
resonates because the pen is not only mightier than the sword but also mightier
than weapons of mass destruction.

Authentic faith enables and ennobles authentic love and
charity is love in action.

Love is more powerful than hate and love is life-giving and
endures beyond the clutches of murdering terrorists for whom death is
definitely prelude to a judgement by the very God who is Love they betray by
their hatred.

Let us not just say Je suis Charlie, rather let us be
absolutely sure there is not within our hearts any form of ranker or hatred,
any desire for vengeance, any rejection of another human being for any notion
whatsoever.

Islam will heal when all our Muslim brothers and sisters
love one another.

Our human family will heal when we all love one another.

Love Himself, born anew this past Christmas day, who laid
down His life for us, for there is no greater act of love, tells us to love one
another as He loves us.

Love is mightier, love is stronger, love has no limit to its
reach, love understands, forgives, reconciles, helps, renews, strengthens,
gives hope, is the vessel of true peace.